Trump to Accept Republican Nomination Amid Heroic Reception Following Assassination Attempt

Duane Schwingel, dressed as Uncle Sam, plays harmonica outside the Fiserv Forum during the third day of the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on July 17, 2024. Photo: AFP

Donald Trump will receive the red carpet treatment Thursday as he accepts the Republican nomination to run for US president. His highly anticipated speech will conclude a historic party convention overshadowed by a recent attempt on his life.

The 78-year-old former president can expect a hero’s welcome on the final day of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where he will address a nation still shaken by the assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania rally. The attack on Saturday left one bystander dead and Trump with a bloodied ear, casting a significant shadow over the convention. Republicans have praised Trump for his bravery in the face of danger.

While some Republicans have blamed Democrats’ anti-Trump rhetoric for the attack, Trump has decided to deliver a more unifying keynote address, hoping to bring the country together. “I’m just grateful we’re going to hear from him. It’s a miracle that his life was spared, and I really believe it was God’s hand,” said Teena Horlacher, a 50-year-old delegate from Utah. “I’d love for him to talk about Saturday, what his feelings were.”

Trump’s poll numbers have surged following President Joe Biden’s poor performance in last month’s TV debate, which has plunged the Democratic Party into an existential crisis. Trump’s campaign is now eyeing traditionally Democratic strongholds like Minnesota and Virginia, potentially diverting Biden’s resources away from defending key states in the “blue wall,” such as Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.